Unboxing: The January - February BDJ Box

Hey guys, Gong Xi Fa Cai! My family has like, only 1/16th Chinese blood but hey! Who wouldn't want to celebrate when this is the holiday that I can pig out on tikoy? By now you should know how much of a pig face I am. I should have my own hashtag by now #littlepigletgoestoeat right?

Speaking of celebration, I'm doing a happy dance because this little box came in the mail yesterday. Halloo BDJ Box! So let's get to unboxing it shall we?

The theme of the box is "Change it Up!". I get it, new year, fresh start. And what better way to do a little change of your appearance but through a new hair color. First item on the box is a full size Garnier Color Naturals in Darkest Brown. I'm actually looking forward to getting a striking hair color this year so I might tuck this in the corner for the mean time. 

Next full size item on the box is Avon's Face Pearls. A shimmery blush that comes in compact beads! Really pretty, reminds me of The Body Shop Brush-on Beads. Will do a separate post on this as I think I need proper swatching on this.

Another full size item on the box is the Beauty and Bright Moringa Soap. Moringa seems to the it beauty product at the moment, (Moringa by the way is malunggay for us Filipina's). But who wouldn't love this stuff? It's packed with vitamins and minerals and comes from a very natural product, hence the number of brands churning out their own take of this ingredient. The plus thing about this beauty bar, is that other than mooring, it also has papaya and kojic acid. With all of that stuff, ewan ko pa kung hindi ka pumuti! LOL!

De-potting Party: How to Take that Pot Out

You might have heard me mention de-potting my Stila Portrait of a Blush Cheek Palette a couple of days back. So I know you'd be wondering how to do it. Thanks again to our friends at The Beauty Department for this amazing instructional.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Well from my 1/16th Chinese Family to yours! Happy Chinese New Year! We'll be partaking tikoy with siopao asado later and hopefully stay up till 12 to watch the fireworks of our neighbors. 

Did You know? The Perils of Pronouncing French Brands

Filipino's have this weird way of pronouncing my name. According to Google the correct way to say "Faith" is this way:

With an emphasis on the "TH" right? In the Philippines, if I say it that way, often times my name gets spelled as "FAYE". I'm like wah?!! 

Me: "Sir it's Fai-T-uh". 

Sir: "Fayah?"

Me: "As in, walk by Fay-T"

Sir: "Oh! Fate!"

Me: *closes eyes and does cleansing breaths

Holiday Gift Sets: Stila Portrait of a Perfect Blush Review

I know the holidays have been over for like, 2 weeks already. But hey, that doesn't mean I can't snag some holiday gift sets anymore! Especially if we're talking about the Stila Palettes. I wasn't able to drop-by their counter during the mad Christmas rush, so by the time everything calmed down and mall crowd begins to thin out, I immediately set my eyes on going to Rustan's to check out their makeup counter. 

Lo and behold! Stila still had their holiday sets, which includes this pretty package. The Portrait of a Perfect Blush Cheek Palette. 

The palette consists of 5 different shades that includes a bronzer, an illuminizer of some sort and 3 blush shades that goes well for skins light, medium and dark. The product comes in a hard cardboard type packaging which in my opinion is a little flimsy. Like my previous Stila palettes, I will be depotting these once the box starts fraying. But for now, I'll keep it as it is.

The first shade on the palette is Golden which is a bronzer. But I think it's a little light for me to show up that well. This would work well with lighter skin tones, someone in the MAC NC35 shade.

Time to Start Loosing the Christmas Fat

Truth be told, I was a pig during the holidays. All the "trying to eat sensible" just flew out the window the moment I saw my Mom's ultimate Chicken Salad. Sigh... Now I'm living with regret, as I sit on my bed trying to zip up my pants (take note of the word trying as an operative word).

Anyway, just saw this really easy and fun video from Erwan Heussaff. Really great points. Something I should do just before bikini season hits.

Lip Color Guide: The 2W's of Lip Color

Some What and When to use color guide for lip shades. Of course some items (e.g. the first date, what if he brings you to a roller derby park eh?) still may change due to personality and location of the events. Anyway, this is pretty much gives you a general idea on which colors fit best for certain events. Because wearing red lipstick in a wedding pretty much means "want to upstage the bride". 

Another Smacker on the Lips: EOS Lip Balm

Technically cold season in the Philippines starts at October, but it peaks up during January to February. Even though I love these months, because I can finally use again my favorite light winter stuff (hello scarves and pretty coats!) what the season does to my lips isn't so fine at all. My lips tends to dry and oh hello wind burn! Not so nice to apply lipstick on because it just ends up looking like color maps on my lips.

Enter the Evolution of Smooth (or as most call EOS) Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Honeysuckle Honeydew.

The product, as mentioned, comes in a ball shape hard plastic packaging. Very easy to handle, you wouldn't worry much on it slipping from your fingers because of the nice thumb grip on the side.

The cap twists off to reveal a semi hard lip balm. As you can see, majority of the product is already exposed so there's no more the usual twisting to get the product out of the tube.

With it's unique dome shape, the product glides on easier. The balm has a nice sweet scent of honeydew which is not overpowering. It does have a slight flowery taste on it unlike most lip balms which are sweet. What I love about the EOS lip balm though is its feel. Not greasy but moisturizes really well. It doesn't have any color, so you wouldn't have to worry of it affecting the color of your lipstick. I've eve noticed that lip glosses that tends to streak, doesn't when ever I have this balm as my base.

What's in the Bag?

As a blogger, some days you're just stumped in picking out a perfect topic to write. Enter Pinterest, the amazing wealth of ideas of things to inspire you on your next great post. Browsing the site a while ago, I've noticed a number of people pinning the items they have inside their bags. 

I'm astounded by the number of things people slip inside their bags. And I mean really? You carry a pair of extra shoes around? Plus that hard bound book of Catching Fire? Anyway, seeing all this made me pull up my bag and check what I have inside as well.

My very sturdy and basic Michael Kors bag. Ultra utilitarian, I love that it doesn't have any frills just a pretty sack that you can have no problem dumping things in.

Quest for The Red: MAC Matte Lipstick in Russian Red

Like the Jason and the Argonauts seeking for the golden fleece, I am too embarking on a quest to find the perfect red. Though not as mythical as that Greek story, I still see it as a serious mission. I mean, who hasn't fallen in love with Taylor Swift's smarty pants mouth? Or Anne Curtis' ruby pout? The only problem now is that with so many brands out there putting out their version of a red lipstick, you'd just go crazy trying to pick one out. 

As a makeup blogger, I have now set myself to become a champion of this worthy cause and do the seeking and checking for you! I've already started with the Shu Uemura Magical Red on my last post. This time, we're taking a closer look at MAC's Matte Lipstick in Russian Red. 

MAC has been noted as the red HG lipstick by a lot of beauty experts, and and has even done a collaboration with the queen of red lippies, Rhianna to create the color Riri Woo. Their line of red shades to choose from is really extensive. The most popular colors of this line are; Ruby Woo, Red, Lady Danger and our today's product on spot light, the Russian Red. 

Looking at it close up, you can see how vibrant the color is. The main thing about a red lipstick is that you always go for bold colors. No need to be shy about it, besides the main point of going with the color is for your mouth to draw attention.

Pantone of the Year: Radiant Orchid

I am totally excited for this year's color. It's one of the top shades that I know works really well with my skin tone whether I am really tan (during summer) or at my lightest (during rainy season going to the cooler months). It also gives that automatic warmth to your skin, so even though you're feeling gloomy and grey, just wear this color and poof! You're all happy and bright!

Here are some makeup that I'm looking forward to grabbing this year in this delicious shade.

1. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Matte Lip Tar in "Hoochie" - I am really looking forward to getting my very first lip tar and what better shade than this purple - lavander shade. Bet this would be smashing because of the matte finish.

2. Models Own in "Purple Passion" - Can I say it's always a good thing when you have "ube" (purple yam in english) on your hands? Yum!

3. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Jardin de Plantes" - Parlez-vous Français? Juste un petit peu! Lol! Sorry but in reality my French only includes Hello, Good Day / Night and My name is. But don't you think this NARS lip pencil just screams Paris to you? I can definitely see Madam Pompadour with this lip shade.

4. Inglot Rainbow Eye Shadow in 114R and 115R - Of course we should never forget the shade of Orchid on our eyes. Since I'm building my bigger Inglot Freedom Palette, these shades would definitely come first on my to buy list.

5. Shiseido "Cool" Luminizing Lip Gloss - in the more lilac spectrum of Orchid, this lip gloss just gives you that hint of color. 

6. Benefit Hervana Face Powder - this lovely swirl of a blush carries 4 amazing colors shell, peach, rose and berry that when combined together gives an orchid blossom blush. 

Hot Tip: Finish Your Face the Right Way

Psst! Want to know a little secret that can change the way your makeup looks? Thank The Beauty Department for sharing again an easy tip that can do wonders on your makeup routine. Remember girls, stamp, daub, stipple but NEVER, EVER SWEEP. That word only works when you're cleaning the floor. Got it?

Quest for The Red: Takashi Murakami Lip & Cheek Fan-tasy

If you've been following my page, you would have noticed my current obsession with find the perfect red shade of lipstick. I know, that constitutes as hoarding but I just cannot help but fall in love every time I see that harlot shade (lol! as described by my mother). Anyway, in my quest for the amazing red, I'm starting with ever favorite brand Shu, with their 6 ♥ Princess Takashi Murakami Lip and Cheek Tint.

I love Shu Uemura collaborations! I thought they can never do a team up as amazing as the one with Karl Lagerfeld, but this collection sure goes head to head by its gold packaging and cutesy, colorful illustrations. 

Welcome the 2014

To more fab makeups to test. To more beauty secrets to uncover. To more ka-artehan to explore! Get ready for a bolder LipsteekDarling this 2014!